BRIDGEPORT -- A Southbury woman, desperate to get into an alcohol rehabilitation program, was arrested after she told police that an airplane was going to blow up Thursday at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford.

Mercaldi, 40, was charged with an act of terrorism, making a false police report and threatening.

She was charged after she called AT&T's 411 number and asked for the telephone number for Sikorsky. She told the operator her name was Kathy and she wanted to report that a plane was going to be blown up, police said.

The telephone operator notified Stratford police and the FBI, and police were able to trace the call to Mercaldi's home in Southbury. She was later arrested by Waterbury police.

During Friday's arraignment, the petite Mercaldi, wearing a black dress, stood before Gilardi as lawyer Jay Larracuente told the judge his client, who is on probation for drunken driving, had previously appeared at a rehabilitation clinic intoxicated.

"I wanted them to know I was really serious about having a drinking problem," Mercaldi told Gilardi.

The judge ordered her held in lieu of $25,000 bond and continued the case to Aug. 28.

"Can anyone drive me to rehab?" Mercaldi asked as she was led from the courtroom by judicial marshals.